Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-12
BURIED In A MINE.
Two Fearful Explosions. Followed by
Fire Occur in British Columbia
Mine.
One Hundred and Fifty Men Entombed
and tits Feared all VIII Perish.

/ NANAIMo, B. c., May Ga terrible ex-
plosion of gas took place last evening in
No. L shaft of the Vancouver Coal Com
pany's mine, In which there were upward
of $50 miners at the time.
| The first 1ntimation those on the sur-
face had of the explosion was a terrific
shock, followed by an outburst of thick
black smoke through the air-shaft The
first explosion was soSn followed by q
second one, stronger than the first, carry
ing pieces of wood miners lamps etc.
hundreds of feet into the air.
In few minutes flames commenced 20
issue through the air-shaft with loud,
roaring noise. In short time the fam
house caught fire, and was quickly con-
sumed.
In the meantime, nine white men and
five Chinese were brought up through No.
l, or the heisting shaft. r. Gibson. the
overmap, mlraculousiy escaped from, the
lower slope by following his way TO the
stables, where he was met by the rescu-
ing party. Rescuing parties continued
to sttempt to reach the entomoed men,
but were able to rescue only fifteen up
to this hour. They were overcome with
after-damp, and had to be rescued by
others of those noble rescuers Sam
uel Hudson succumbed TO the effects of
the afterdamp.
The scenes around the shaft head are
most heartrending. Friends of those
imprisoned below are looking for the
missing.
At this hour g p. n.y., but little hopes
are entertained for the safety of the i'm
prisoned men.
The fires are still raging, but it is
thought will soon be got under control
when a rescuing party will again attempt
to go below.
Among those saved are George Davis.
John Smith, j. Jones, James Stone, John
Lynn, and Jules Michel. All are now
well.
Among the dead are W. Craven, w.
Davis, w. Watson.
At 6 p. m, the fire is still burning, and
it will be impossible to attempt a rescue
before morning, if then. The probabil,
ity is that all the imprisoned miners, who
number about one hundred and twenty
will perish of suffocation.
Another Account.
VICTORIA B. c., May 6.-The colliery
explosion at Nanamio, B. c., is the theme
uppermOst in every mind, being one of
the most fatal affairs that has ever hap
pened Ia Canada. 1t Is now ascertained
that 16O persons were entomed at the
time of the disaster. Of this number
ninety were white and the remainder
Chinese. Over One-half of the dead, in
jured, and imprisoned miners have wives
and families. Volunteers from Washing
ton and Ships are in the mine and are
to be succeeding. The scene on
the esplanade and at Nananimo this morn
ing was heartrending. Wives. mothers,
sisters and daughters were running to
and from among the crowd wailing and
for loss of husbands, fathers,
brothers and friends. AS body after body
was taken to the surface in the cage 8
rush was made for the corpse. The air
was rent with lamentations of the be-
reaved many of whom refused to be COM
forted. It was sight never to be for
COTTON. Vehicles, stretchers and rough
boards were pressed into service to re-
move bodies to the dead house. Many
of these were unrecognizable from the
effects of fire and in some instances even
charred. The anxiety for those in the
mine is intense. Business is practically
The city is in profound sor-
row. Nothing is talked of but the awful
calamity which has befallen the city and
the great number of men that have been
ushered into eternity. The danger of
the gas being driven into the fire and a
second explosion is not past, and fears
are entertained that the whole place may
be blown up. Old miners say such a re-
suit is possible.